Smith and Zenyatta winning the 2009 Classic. Photo credit Breeders’ Cup Ltd.

They don’t call him Big Money Mike for nothing.

Of the 13 Grade 1 races that will be run this weekend in the Breeders’ Cup, Mike Smith is named on nine of them, three of them favorites. But no matter how he does, even if he goes winless, his Breeders’ Cup records are secure: 126 mounts, and 25 wins, with earnings of $34.2 million in the event.

His mounts are the morning line favorites in three races: Mor Spirit in the Dirt Mile at 3-1; Unique Bella in the Filly and Mare Sprint at 9-5; and Drefong in the Sprint at 5-2. Both Mor Spirit and Drefong are trained by Bob Baffert, who’s gunning for a record of his own, and Smith will ride in two other Breeders’ Cup races for Baffert: Abel Tasman in the Distaff and Arrogate in the Classic.

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